Produced Water from Shale Gas

Highlights

Evaporation of produced water from hydrofracking to recover pure condensate and high quality salt (e.g. NaCl and/or CaCl₂) which can be marketed. The contaminants are concentrated for minimum liquid discharge and heavy metals are removed upstream of the evaporation plant.

Feedstocks

Produced waters from hydrofracking during the extraction of shale gas, which contain salt and other contaminants.

Process Characteristics

Pre-treatment by pH adjustment and filtration to remove solid impurities

Removal of heavy metals by chemical purification

Crystallization of high grade NaCl

Recovery of CaCl₂

High contaminant loadings can be handled

Liquid purge is minimized

Plant designed to minimize scaling

Plant Characteristics

MVR system to optimise energy costs

Minimum equipment to reduce investment costs

Forced circulation evaporators to handle solids

Special treatment to minimize scaling

Centrifuge for salt separation and washing to recover a value added product for marketing